Hiking in central Mongolia

Day 1: Fly to Dazanzadgad – Yol Valley

Arrive Dalanzadgad airport in South Gobi, the least populated province in Mongolia. Drive west for 30km and check into a ger camp near Yol Valley. In the afternoon, explore to less visited small gorge nearby the camp. We will take over an hour game hiking in the beautiful gorge while spotting some interesting animal shaped rock formations.

Day 2: Yol Valley

Full day excursion to Gurvansaikhan Mountains and the Yol Valley itself. We will explore this famous ravine, which sometimes has permanent ice and snow. Lammergeyer nest here, and we almost guaranteed to see them flying over the ravine. Another rare bird, the Wallcreeper is also quite easy to see at close range. When the ice and snow are solid or completely thawed, it is possible to take a long hike through the entire length of the Yol valley back to our ger camp.

Day 3: Hongor sand                            

A.m. we will take half day drive further west to the famous Hongor sands, a giant sand dune stretching lengthwise some 180 km away into the distance. Sometimes it is just a couple of hundred meters wide, sometimes as wide as 7-20km. We will check in at a ger camp located here. There are basic camps, but with excellent locations.

Hongor sands are high, with a small stream following  side of  the sand dune. This dramatic scenery features many colors of nature as white sand dune, the light green grass, red-blue mountains and the eternal blue sky.

Some herdsmen also live nearby. We will ramble into the dunes to a point where the sand reaches some hundred meters into the sky and then climb up for a superb view of the desert steppe. We will visit  one of the herdsmen family and ride two humped camel.

Day 4: Bayanzag

Today we will proceed our tour to Bayanzag is also known as the “Cemetery of Dinosaurs” and known as Flaming Cliffs to the world. This is a picturesque saxual forest that is world famous for dinosaur remain ancient red rock creation, Bayanzag formed 60-70 million years ago,  named Flaming Cliffs by Roy Andrew Chapman, an American explorer who visited Mongolia in 1920s, discovered the first nest of dinosaur eggs the world had ever seen. Bayanzag is also a particularly beautiful area, a huge shelf of rock and sand that descends down into many canyons that meander down to the desert floor.  The rock and sand were an array of colors from yellow, orange and red, setting a breathtaking backdrop.

Day 5: Ongi Monastery

This morning we will drive half day to the Ongiin River, which usually is dried out. The Ongi Monastery ruin is alongside the river near Saikhan Ovoo. Hike around the area in the afternoon.

Day 6: Harhorin – Hongno Han

AM. We will drive for around 2 hours to Kharkhorum which was the oldest capital city of Mongol Empire, started building by Chinggis Khaan in 13^th century. We will visit an impressive Kharakhorum archeological museum exhibits dozens of artifacts dating from 13^th and 14^th centuries which were recovered from sites of the city. Proceed to visit Erdenezuu Monastery which is the earliest and most magnificent monastery complex in Mongolia, was built at the base of Kharkhorum city in late of 16^th century. Proceed driving to Hogno Han Mountains. Overnight at camp.

Day 7: Hogno Han

Hogno Han mountain is a giant rock formation in the middle of the steppe and in it is the small Erdenehamba Monastery, now being restored. It was destroyed during the purges of the 1930s. We will explore the area on foot today.

 sDat 8: To Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to your hotel. In the late afternoon, you will meet your guide at the hotel lobby for leaving to “Tumen Eh” folk music concert and have a farewell dinner altogether.